Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-07-19
Prohibition and Yet.
Sourn KRNrunKIANl

Souri, KENTUnBIAN!
Your correspondent, whoever he
may be, writing over the nom d.
plume of Yet, calls attention TO things
which are worthy the careful consid-
Grafton of all our citizens. Is IL true
that the voice of our people, so clear
and distinct in lis tone and utlerance
as to result in u law prohibiting the
vending of intoxicating liquors In
our town and county, has no more
power, force or influence than TO close
the front door and stop the public
sale Of liquor2 Is this business to be
driven TO the shades of privacy, where
meaner whisky and more OF ii, at a
greater profit can be sold? What
would we think of parents who
would say to their children, you shall
not play with serpent in the pres
ence Of company in the parlor, and at
the same time knew that their chill
dren were playing with them daily
in the cellar or some other private
place?
That the law is violated is no ar
gument for its repeal. Laws against
theft, robbery and murder are vio-
lated, yet no one says repeal them,
but be the more vigilant and enforce
them. Does any one say that it is
difficult to do? grant it, but shall
an officer assigned to post of duty
wilt like a cabbage leaf in the sun,
stand back abashed or shut his eyes
and turn away, because there are diff
ficulties before him In the path of du-
tyr No. Right things, although
difficult, must be done.
Why is 1t so difficult TO enforce
prohibition y Because most men en-
gagged in the liquor traffic, have come
to disregard law, whether moral, hu-
man or Divine, so long as they may
escape the penalty. Their covetous
greed for moneys and the immense per
centage of profit in the liquor bust
ness, lead them to take great risks
that they may crafty the one and
secure the other.
The National Bureau of Statistics
shows that about $780, 1000 900 annual
ly pass into the hands of retailers of
intoxicating drinks in this country,
and that their profit is 1884, per cent.
Our city is not the only place where
difficulties exists in the enforcement
of the prohibition law.
The Governor ofMaine finds it nee
essary to notify the Attorney Gener-
al and every County Attorney in the
State, of conspiracy to evade the
prohibiiory liquor law, by unjusti-
fable Interpretation of revenue laws
concerning imported packages. Gov
ernor Bodwell calls upon the attor-
neys to enforce the law to its fullest
extent. Looking from Maine to Tex
as, | notice that in San Antonio the
Mayor, Chief of Police, two Alder
men and bank cashier were arrest
ed for disturbing the public peace
and breaking up a meeting held in
the interest of prohibition. Shame
that any city should have such Of
ilcers. $4,000 is the modest sum
asked of the brewers and distillers Of
the North and West to defeat prohi-
bition in Texas. Possibly these San
Antonio officers may be little mix
ed up.
The AUTHORIZATION Association
in Wisconsin has addressed circu-
lar to "The aloon-kcspers and
Friends of Personal Liberty" p call
ing attention to the conflict between
liquor and anti-liquor, and to the
state of things in Georgia, Kansas,
New York, etc. With regard to ILL
nois they say: The ordinances are
being continually made more severe,
or are too stringenLly enforced. in
Michigan the people have just mar
rowly escaped the yoke of prohibit
ton. "The small majority for our
just cause shows what power our OPP
ponents have, and demands eternal
vigilance on our part" Reference is
made TO twenty three bills introduced
in the legislature opposing the liquor
interests, and defeated through the
efforts of the Association.
In view of these facts, it behooves
every good citizen, and especially
every officer, TO see that prohibitory
laws are not only enacted, but en-
forced. Whenever this is done the
result will be to decrease crime and
suffering. We have an illustration
of this In Iowa. Fort Madison Peni-
tentiary, for the first time in its his
tory, has not enough convicts to car
ry out contracts of the managers; thus
showing prohibition does prohibit.
10 meet and remove the evil COM
planned of by your correspondent,
Yet, is certainly somebody's duty.
Whose duty is it?
We have officers, municipal and
civil, who have the right and the
ability TO ferret out this evil. If the
whisky demon can ride into town up.
on barrel, mask himself behind pri-
vate Notifications and bid defiance, 1t
is certainly time for work or TO get
out of the way for those who will
work. Pro BoNo.